The twelfth Heineken Cup begins on Friday, October 20 - the following afternoon Ulster kick-off their Pool 5 run against Toulouse (Ravenhill, 1.35pm), Leinster are at home to Gloucester that day in Pool 2 (Lansdowne Road, 5.30pm), while Sunday, October 22 will see reigning champions Munster travel to meet Leicester in Pool 4 (Welford Road, 3pm).

The Craigavon-born Best is still recovering from the broken ankle he sustained towards the end of last season. After some extensive training and physio work, the 28-year-old is nearing a return but has not set a date as "the easiest way to get my head around it is to not set any targets. When I'm right, they'll tell me."

Best does not see any reason why he cannot come back "in the best shape" of his rugby career. He said: "When I come back, I will be sharper, bigger and stronger. I've had four or five months working on my upper body and I have probably never had as long a pre-season before - normally one season rolls into the next."

Declan Kidney, who has appointed the Heineken Cup's record points scorer Ronan O'Gara as one of Munster's vice captains for this season.

Speaking at the tournament's launch, out-half O'Gara is hopeful that Munster's back line can improve as the year goes on. He admitted: "The back line got criticised a fair bit last season but we still won a Heineken Cup with that standard. I just think we're not anywhere near our potential, especially from a technical point of view.

"I thought there were massive strides made in last season's (Heineken Cup) quarter-final, semi-final and final in terms of our ability as a back line.

"There is definitely more to come - I just think there are a fair few backs there that would probably be able to express themselves even more. Barry Murphy looks great in training again. We have Keith Earls (from the Munster Academy) training with us too which is great to see. He's a really nice player as well."

Peter Stringer, Kieran Lewis and Simon Best, who boast 102 Heineken Cup caps between them. Munster number 9 Stringer has made 60 starts in the competition to date.

Stringer's Munster team-mate Denis Leamy, speaking at the launch, gave an insight into the men in red's attitudes ahead of the start of the 2006/07 Heineken Cup. The Tipperary man said: "Deccie (Kidney) has likened the 2006 win to golf terms in that we're a bit like Colin Montgomerie - we were always there or thereabouts but we never won it.

"Now that we have won a major title, we want to become more like Tiger Woods - we want to win it every year or every day as Woods seems to do when he hits the fairways.

"That's the attitude we've got to take. We've got to think we can got out and be there or thereabouts this year. Hopefully we can move on and learn from this success."

In a repeat of last year's Heineken Cup semi-final, Leinster and Munster will renew their rivalries in Friday's Magners League clash at Lansdowne Road. Key man O'Gara is expecting Leinster to throw everything at his side.

"I think Leinster are going to have that feeling (of it being a grudge match). From our point of view it's not that easy. You probably don't have that inner hurt that the boys in Leinster are feeling now but that's the challenge for us. We've got make sure that, as Heineken Cup winners, we got out and demonstrate that we're a better team," said the Corkman.

"I may be proven wrong but it's a great game to be part of - an exciting one. That's the great thing about this weekend, there's talk of over 20,000 fans going to a Celtic League game and I think that creates a great buzz amongst everyone."

Monday was community legacy day at Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as the IRFU's 'Spirit of Rugby' programme brought together some local disability rugby players from DLSP Eagles, Seapoint Dragons and Westmanstown Wasps, and a number of WRWC players and coaches from the competing nations, for a fun-filled coaching/training session and Tag rugby games.

Monday was a momentous day for the Ireland Women's camp as the 28-strong squad was revealed for the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil. Head coach Tom Tierney and captain Niamh Briggs spoke to the press at the announcement in UCD.

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne spoke to Irish Rugby TV about the Union's 2016/17 Annual Report, which includes increased investment in Women's rugby and addresses the challenges of funding for the game in Ireland.

The launch of a commemorative stamp to mark the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland was a special day for Women's rugby, team captain Niamh Briggs and her family. We spoke to her and her dad Mike at the GPO.

Marie Louise Reilly joined her Ireland team-mates Nora Stapleton and Lindsay Peat at a recent Dublin City Council event in support of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Reilly, who works as a DCC Sports Officer, said: "The team are coming together really well, we're working hard and hopefully August will be really memorable not just for us but for the whole country."

Fiona Coghlan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Ambassador and Chair of the Dublin City Sports and Wellbeing Partnership, speaks about Dublin City Council's support of the tournament in August and the momentum and excitement building in the capital and around the four provinces for WRWC 2017.

Felix Jones, who is the visiting coach in Ireland camp this week, spoke to Irish Rugby TV about how 'interesting' and 'valuable' his time in Tokyo has been, and also what the transition from player to coach is like. He retired in October 2015 and is now Munster's back-line and attack coach.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's second Test against Japan, Ireland tour captain Rhys Ruddock said: "We've been happy with the results so far, and there's been bits of the performances we've been really happy with and some bits that we're looking to improve on. Tomorrow marks the last opportunity to go out and do that, so we're all really excited about getting out there now."

Set for his third start of the summer tour, Ireland number 8 Jack Conan said: "We gave ourselves the objective of coming over with three good performances, and I feel like we're one away from that. It'll be another massive 80 minutes and everyone wants to finish the season on a high."

Marking the 50-day countdown, we hear from Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Tournament Director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland forwards Cliodhna Moloney and Paula Fitzpatrick as the tournament, which will be held in Dublin and Belfast from August 9 to 26, draws ever closer.

Highlights from Ireland's 50-22 first Test victory over Japan at Ecopa Stadium in Shizuoka. Joe Schmidt's men ran in seven tries with two each from Keith Earls, Dan Leavy and Jack Conan, while Garry Ringrose also dotted down.

The Ireland Under-18 and Under-19 squads had a busy Easter period with seven matches played in Ashbourne, Cardiff, Llanelli, Caerphilly and Bordeaux. Check out some of the tries scored. Full match reports are available on www.irishrugby.ie.

Speaking to RTE Radio rugby correspondent Michael Corcoran, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt was asked about prioritising players playing in Ireland when it comes to national selection over those who are based overseas.

In an interview broadcast on RTE Radio 1's 'Sunday Sport' programme, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt discussed the challenges and opportunities presented by the summer tour to the USA and Japan, and also looked ahead to next month's Rugby World Cup Pool Draw.

Speaking about working with the provinces and monitoring players' progress, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt told RTE Radio 1: "For us, having the best quality of performance within the provinces, getting some really good coaching from the provincial coaches, which we know is happening at the moment, that's the foundation that we need because in the end we get the players in a match week pretty much."

In an interview with RTE Radio rugby correspondent Michael Corcoran, Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt confirmed that Girvan Dempsey, Felix Jones and Ronan O'Gara will be incorporated into the coaching group for the upcoming summer tour to the USA and Japan.

IRFU National Talent Development Manager Hendrik Kruger says the Easter age-grade internationals give the Ireland Under-18 and Under-19 players 'the chance to represent their country and experience international rugby' and are 'the highlight of their season'.